Previous projects

EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory)

EUSO is an experiment that aims to study extremely high-energy cosmic particles (E>5∙1019 eV) by measuring the UV light they generate via particle bursts in the atmosphere from a satellite. A number of preliminary studies are underway: from the ground (at TA in Utah) and balloons as well as the Mini-EUSO which was sent up to the ISS in August 2019. KTH has participated in the Mini-EUSO sub-project which tests new technology, but also provides the opportunity for research into atmospheric light phenomena and meteors. In May 2023, another detector was launched by high-altitude balloon, SPB-2, by Nasa. Unfortunately, the balloon leaked after a few days so the amount of data obtained was limited.

Climate Change Induced Disaster Management in Africa

Mozambique is one of Africa’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. Climate-related hazards such as droughts, wildfires, floods, and cyclones are occurring with increasing frequency, having a cumulative and devastating impact on a population that is insufficiently prepared. The main aim of this project is to build education capacity to improve disaster management in Mozambique, using geospatial information technology. It focuses on spatial data and methods, using digital maps, satellite data, and spatial modelling, in order to foresee and prepare for risks related to possible disasters linked to a changing climate. This project is a collaboration among four European partners and four Mozambique partners, led by Lund. The project is funded by EC Erasmus+ Program, 2020-2022.

EO4Wildfire

The objective of this project is to develop a novel, fully automatic and globally applicable method, using both earth observation big data and deep learning, for near real-time wildfire detection, progression monitoring and rapid damage assessment. EO4Wildfire is funded by ESA EO Science for Society Program, 2020-2021.

Earth Observation Big Data and Deep Learning for Change Detection

The overall objective of this project is to develop innovative and robust methods for change detection and environmental impact assessment using Earth Observation big data and a deep learning framework focusing on urbanization and forest fires monitoring. This project is a multidisciplinary collaboration among researchers in Remote Sensing, Robotics Perception and Learning, and Environmental Systems Analysis. This is a pilot project funded by KTH Digital Futures, 2019-2020.

EO4SmartCities

EO4SmartCities is a project within the Dragon 4 programme, a cooperation between ESA and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology during 2016-2020. The overall objective of this research is to develop EO-based urban information services to support smart cities and sustainable urbanization. 

The specific objectives are:

• To develop novel methods for better characterization of spatiotemporal patterns of urbanization and assessment of urban capacity.

• To explore advanced InSAR and Optical image processing technique for land surface classification and change detection.

• To exemplify the smart city approach through Earth Observation in conjunction with GIS and urban models, in order to address two fundamental pillars of urban climate and environment:

  • Urban thermal environment, with emphasis to surface energy balance and the urban heat island, the presence and spatial distribution of thermal hot spots and energy efficiency at the district level.

  • Urban hydrology, with emphasis to urban flooding and subside.

 Fjärranalys och geografiskt informationssystem (GIS) för Rwanda

Projektet är ett samarbete med Lunds Universitet och Rwandas Universitet för att utveckla ett mastersprogram i GIS och land management samt att utbilda 4 forskarstudenter i fjärranalys och GIS för miljömodellering, landhushållning och planering. Projektet finansieras av SIDA och pågick under 2013-2019.

Sentinel4Urban

Det övergripande målet med denna forskning är att utveckla innovativa metoder och algoritmer när det gäller användningen av multitemporal data från Sentinel-1A/-2A för att övervaka urbanisering på global skala. Multitemporal data innebär att man observerar samma område vid åtskilliga tillfällen i tiden. Projektet väntas speciellt bidra till:

• Utveckling av nya och robusta metoder och algoritmer för att få fram pålitlig information vid rätt tidpunkt för planering och beslut kring hållbar stadsutveckling.
• En bättre förståelse för betydelsen av data från Sentinelsatelliterna för analys, kartläggning och övervakning av städers utveckling.

Projektet finansieras av Rymdstyreslen under perioden 2016-2019.

GIS-centrum vid Makerere-universitetet i Uganda

Projektet finansieras av SIDA och genomförs i samverkan mellan Lunds Universitet och Makerere-universitet i Uganda. Syftet är att utveckla det existerande GIS-centrumet till ett modernt GIS-laboratorium genom utbildning, rekrytering av personal, tillgång till data och ny hård- och programvara. Projektet pågår under perioden 2015-2020.

PoGO+

PoGO+ is an X-ray polarizometer optimized for cosmic point sources that flew during the summer of 2016 from Esrange in northern Sweden. KTH is the leading institute in the project, which is carried out together with Japanese partners. The measurements during the week-long flight were successful and resulted in new observations of polarized X-ray radiation from the Crab Nebula and the X-ray binary Cygnus X-1.

Working on Venus

All the electronics required for a Venus lander shall be constructed and tested at 460 degrees centigrade. Silicon carbide is utilised for handling these temperatures while integrated circuits are manufactured in the Myfab KTH Electrum laboratory. The project is ongoing during the period 2014-2018, with funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Sensors have been tested at temperatures up to 400 degrees and oven test have been performed on passive components. Radio circuits, image sensors, an innovative CMOS process, a first batch of two different 4-bit CPUs and a more advanced image sensor have been produced. The last year of the project is 2018 and many results and doctoral theses are to be expected during the spring 2019. A project proposal with the title ”Venus Long-Life Surface Package (VL2SP)” was sent to ESA 2016 and presented to the VEXAG group at NASA and at IAC 2017.

More information can be found on the website of the project: Working on Venus